Appeal 2007-2140
Application 09/892,790
Patent 5,917,679
Strom II
63. Strom II describes at figure 6 that the air bearing surface 80 can
include internal and external edge steps 76 such as disclosed in Appellants’
figure 8.
Chhabra
64. Chhabra describes at figure 14a that the slider can include
leading edge steps 254 and 256 such as disclosed in Appellants’ figure 8.
G. Differences
65. Chang differs from claims 25, 26, 36, and 37 in that Chang does
not teach that the cross rail gap can instead be a recessed step.
66. Bolasna II differs from claims 25, 27, 36, and 38 in that
Bolasna II does not teach that the off-center cross rail gap can instead be a
recessed step.
67. Chapin teaches a cross rail 44 which includes notch 54
(recessed step) instead of a gap.
68. The prior art cited above in Section G teaches all of the
structures of Appellants’ claims 25-27 and 36-38.
H. Level of Skill in the Art
69. The references cited above, in Sections E and F, demonstrate
the high level of skill in the art which includes knowledge of how to
manufacture a negative pressure air bearing slider surface with multiple air
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